[FRC Blog] 2016 Radio Update

[EricH]

Originally Posted by thatnameistaken

Happened in 2012-2013, too, apparently.
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...ariation-table
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...eran-variation

Going back to 2010-2011, it seems that for all the control system components veterans got, rookies got 2. Odd.
http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...write%20up.pdf
http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...ifferences.pdf

Interestingly, it seems giving veterans router models they received previously only started in 2014.

If you take a look at my last post, I don't think it's odd at all.

The original intent was that only new/upgraded components of the control system would be sent to all teams in the KOP, while rookies would get the whole system (because they kind of need it).
2008 and prior: New system, complete, every year, to every team. (Thanks to IFI for their support--and for the ability to run a match within 30 seconds of the last robot turning on.)
2009: New system. Operator box, router for it, D-link for the robot, cRIO, PDP, cRIO modules, and breakouts, to all teams.
2010: Slight modification... Classmates distributed to all teams. I want to say modules and breakouts were also on the distribution list, but more limited.
2011: Same sort of deal as 2010, sans classmate.
2012: See above. A Kinect was also included. But this also saw the Einstein Incident... And there had been some other incidents with wireless.
2013: Everybody gets new router, some modules...
2014: See 2013.
2015: New control system: everybody gets one! (On the robot side at least. OI being what it is, the Classmate is not provided to veterans.)
2016: All we know for sure is: the RoboRIO system is getting a new radio, and thus it'll be in all KOPs sent out. In theory, the rest of the system isn't changing, so there's no need to send everybody everything... but who knows.

[thatnameistaken]

Originally Posted by EricH

If you take a look at my last post, I don't think it's odd at all.

The original intent was that only new/upgraded components of the control system would be sent to all teams in the KOP, while rookies would get the whole system (because they kind of need it).
2008 and prior: New system, complete, every year, to every team. (Thanks to IFI for their support--and for the ability to run a match within 30 seconds of the last robot turning on.)
2009: New system. Operator box, router for it, D-link for the robot, cRIO, PDP, cRIO modules, and breakouts, to all teams.
2010: Slight modification... Classmates distributed to all teams. I want to say modules and breakouts were also on the distribution list, but more limited.
2011: Same sort of deal as 2010, sans classmate.
2012: See above. A Kinect was also included. But this also saw the Einstein Incident... And there had been some other incidents with wireless.
2013: Everybody gets new router, some modules...
2014: See 2013.
2015: New control system: everybody gets one! (On the robot side at least. OI being what it is, the Classmate is not provided to veterans.)
2016: All we know for sure is: the RoboRIO system is getting a new radio, and thus it'll be in all KOPs sent out. In theory, the rest of the system isn't changing, so there's no need to send everybody everything... but who knows.

From 2010 onward, literally everything but the cRIO, solenoid breakout, and radio (except when it was new, until 2014), was given to all teams. Even the PDP, which was fairly expensive as I recall. Just based on precedent, I wouldn't be surprised to get another PDP and VRM in this year's KOP; however, as the supplier has also changed, I could really see it going either way.

But back on topic, I'm pretty happy with this radio. The footprint is great, and my team was planning on using a USB camera anyway; no real drawbacks for us. I'll still be interested in know how easy it is to use a switch, though; never know when we'll need another port in the future.

[Jimmy Nichols]

Just bought 2 at the special pricing, which is how the world works. I get quotes all the time for Rockwell Automation parts for my customers and their price is significantly different than my companies price. Its how things are done in industry. Companies sign contracts to get special pricing all the time.